State Congress yet to decide on contesting in seats of deserters

SHILLONG, Sep 1: The Meghalaya Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) is yet to decide whether or not to field candidates in the seats of the party deserters in next year’s Assembly elections.
“We are still analysing the party position of the constituencies where our MLAs deserted. We will field candidates only if we are sure that we can put up a good fight,” MPCC working president Pynshngainlang N Syiem told The Shillong Times on Thursday.
He said the party will try its best to consolidate its position in all these constituencies. He also said that the Congress will need good candidates to contest against the deserters.
“We are looking at new faces since the party believes in youth power. I don’t think it will be a right approach if we try to bring in sitting or former MLAs. We are looking to build the party for the future,” Syiem said.
Twelve of the 17 Congress MLAs had “merged” themselves with the Trinamool Congress last year.
The remaining five – Ampareen Lyngdoh, Mayralborn Syiem, Kimfa S Marbaniang, Mohendro Rapsang and Process T Sawkmie – were suspended by the Congress for their decision to support the state government. They are likely to join the National People’s Party and the United Democratic Party ahead of the polls.
Syiem said the Congress has not decided so far on the number of the seats it will contest.
Meanwhile, he said the All India Congress Committee is yet to constitute the State Election Committee (SEC). He said the Block Congress Committees (BCCs) and District Congress Committees will recommend the names of party candidates to the MPCC only after the SEC is constituted.
Syiem said the MPCC is trying to rope in experts to prepare the party manifesto.
“The manifesto committee has already met once. We have asked the various BCCs to submit their views and suggestions on the party manifesto,” the MPCC working president said.